Director of Individual Giving, Southern California

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Director of Individual Giving, Southern California conceives, designs, and leads effective multi-year strategies and plans for the cultivation and solicitation of gift prospects, including corporate, foundation, institutions, and/or individual donors. They understand and apply complex principles of developing donor strategies and build strong relationships with new and current donors and prospects. The Director will cultivate donors from annual giving to major or planned gifts.

They will be responsible for direct requests to both global and local priorities to meet funding needs. They discuss assets proficiently and listen for opportunities for gifts of assets or other non-cash gifts, such as planned gifts and trade lands. They incorporate blended gifts and gifts of assets in proposals to donors. The Director will maintain an expert understanding of the factors influencing philanthropic giving.

They can articulate all global priorities of the Conservancy and work within a campaign at an advanced level. They understand organizational budgets and are proficient utilizing this knowledge to build proposal budgets. They have an advanced knowledge of charitable giving, particularly in the areas of private foundations, operating foundations, and Donor Advised Funds; discuss complex charitable options with donors. They will work across chapters and programs and manage a referral network.

This position will staff chapter leadership as a moves manager as appropriate and provide volunteer and/or trustee management. They will be required to use the Conservancy’s donor database. They will travel frequently and on short notice, work long and weekends as needed. This position must be based in one of the following locations:
Santa Barbara, Los Angeles County, Orange County, or San Diego County.

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with constituents such as major donors and corporations.
• Experience in asking for and closing major or planned gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
• Experience, coursework or other training in current and evolving trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of capital campaigns, major gifts and planned giving.

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to design and direct fundraising initiatives, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition strategies.
• Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity, and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy’s work.
• Ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.
• Demonstrated experience using listening, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships and motivate donors and volunteers.
• Expert knowledge of complex charitable gift planning.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $140,000 - $196,000 for candidates in Santa Barbara, San Diego, or Orange County and $153,000 - $214,000 for candidates in Los Angeles County. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures.

Whether it’s career development, flexible…